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Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for Greater London Authority (GLA) has discussed the challenges London faces to become a Smart City.

Speaking at the Local Government ICT Summit in London, Blackwell said that he envisages a Smart London which uses data and technology together for the good of the city. It mobilises the power of data as the fuel for innovation to design and develop safe, open and inclusive solutions for challenges London faces over the next decade and beyond.

As London is expected to grow to more than 11 million people by 2050, he said, harnessing data and digital technologies across all the 33 boroughs for providing public services becomes a critical need. Indeed, he said, smart devices and digital ways of working can mobilise new opportunities and manage the pressures London faces over the next decade and beyond.

Blackwell also stressed the need for a Smart London to develop and strengthening city-wide collaboration between public institutions, private sector, creative, scientific research and tech communities.

Blackwell highlighted the role of the GLA of promoting initiatives aimed in harnessing London’s digital talents to improve collaboration and innovation. For instance, Smart London Camp 2018, GLA’s first ‘unconference’ which took place on April 21 at City Hall, investigated how the GLA could collectively and collaboratively use data and smart technology to transform the way public service are delivered.

Blackwell highlighted the role of leadership, innovation and collaboration as key to deliver of solutions for Smart Cities. Discussing the recent GLA engagement with the public and users on issues such as privacy and trust on data sharing Blackwell said, “More could be done to make the case for data sharing”.

Blackwell said, “What we are going to do is move London from a concept of a Smart City that focuses on the word systems to collaboration on data and needs, to use innovation to meet citizens needs. The key point is thinking about collaboration, data and needs.”

In the future he thinks it is going to change the approach of how we think of ‘Smart’ away from “gadgets and devices and towards getting the planning right, sorting out data, creating a discussing with the tech community focusing on design”, Blackwell added.

Blackwell said that a Smarter London uses data and technology together for the good growth of our city. It harnesses the power of data as the fuel for innovation to design and develop open and inclusive solutions for city challenges.

Blackwell concluded saying that to stay ahead of the technology curve, rather than follow it, a Smarter London needs new city-wide collaboration between public institutions and tech communities by and for Londoners.